F1 News Round-up #9

The 9th instalment of the F1 News segment with stories including F1’s new official logo and the news that Alfa Romeo are to return to F1 with Sauber.

05/11/17

Formula 1 unveils new logo

Formula One has unveiled its new logo as the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi drew to a close. Formula One receives a new logo after 23 years. F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches said that the decision to change the logo had come about because the old design was not useful for modern digital platforms nor merchandise.

Raikkonen fastest on Day 1

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen ended Day 1 of tyre testing quickest as the teams and drivers got to try-out the 2018 compounds. Raikkonen set the quickest time of a 1:37:768 on the new hypersoft tyre but it was Robert Kubica who stole the headlines as he tested for Williams.

The Pole completed 100 laps en-route to 9th in the overall standings with a time of a 1:41:296. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Mercedes Lewis Hamilton were 2nd and 3rd and were within 8 tenths of Raikkonen. Fernando Alonso and Oliver Turvey were able to clock over 200 laps for McLaren.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:37:768, 99 laps

DanielRicciardo, RedBull, 1:38:066, 109 laps

LewisHamilton, Mercedes, 1:38:551, 123 laps

RomainGrosjean, Haas, 1:39:270, 137 laps

LanceStroll, Williams, 1:39:580, 29 laps

Vettel fastest as 2017 comes to a close

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel ended a successful test for Ferrari as the German topped the standings. Vettel ran the new hypersoft tyre in the morning and set a time that no-one could beat of a 1:37:551. Mercedes Valterri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished 2nd and 3rd.

Robert Kubica was back in the car and ended up 7th with 28 laps. The majority of Williams’ running was by Sergey Sirotkin, who ended the day 10th quickest with 86 laps. McLaren’s new reserve driver, Lando Norris was doing development work for Pirelli – clocking 118 laps on his way to 12th place. Ferrari young driver, Charles Leclerc, who is poised to take a seat at Sauber for 2018, ended up 11th with 149 laps.

SebastianVettel, Ferrari, 1:37:551, 118 laps

ValterriBottas, Mercedes, 1:38:490, 141 laps

MaxVerstappen, RedBull, 1:38:736, 132 laps

SergioPerez, ForceIndia, 1:38:818, 52 laps

EstebanOcon, ForceIndia, 1:39:148, 72 laps

Alfa Romeo to return to F1 with Sauber

Alfa Romeo is to return to F1 with Sauber from 2018 onwards. Alfa Romeo, who will return to F1 after an absence of more than 30 years, have signed a technical and commercial partnership with Sauber. The team will now be called Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team and will use 2018-spec Ferrari engines.

Sauber finished last in the Constructors Championship this year with 5 points. Although Sauber has not revealed who will drive for them in 2018 its likely that one or even both of Ferrari’s young driver programme, who are Charles Leclerc and Antonio Giovinazzi are in the frame for a seat. Current driver, Marcus Ericsson, who failed to score any points this year for the team is likely to stay on.

It was confirmed days later that Leclerc would join Ericsson for 2018 with Giovinazzi to serve as third driver for 2018. Giovinazzi raced for Sauber in the first two races of 2017, standing in for the injured Pascal Wehrlein. He will take part in six FP1 sessions for the team in 2018.